The Use of ZnO Quantum Dots to Improve the Electrical Properties of Silicon Solar Cells

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F46747885%3A24620%2F25%3A00013420" target="_blank" >RIV/46747885:24620/25:00013420 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18040861" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18040861</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ma18040861" target="_blank" >10.3390/ma18040861</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

The Use of ZnO Quantum Dots to Improve the Electrical Properties of Silicon Solar Cells

Original language description

Silicon-based solar cells dominate the photovoltaic market, with commercial monocrystalline silicon cells reaching efficiencies as high as 27.3% by May 2024. An alternative to monocrystalline silicon solar cells is polycrystalline solar cells. Despite their lower efficiency (record: 23.81%), their manufacturing process is simpler and cheaper, and their energy conversion efficiency is less sensitive to temperature changes. However, limitations persist in optical and electrical losses, particularly underutilizing ultraviolet (UV) radiation due to silicon’s bandgap. To address these issues, the application of down-converting materials like zinc oxide (ZnO) quantum dots (QDs) has gained attention. ZnO QDs absorb high-energy UV light and re-emit it in the visible spectrum, optimizing the portion of solar energy usable by silicon cells. This study explores the synthesis of ZnO QDs using a sol–gel method, followed by their application on polycrystalline silicon solar cells. Experimental results indicated an increase in short-circuit current and overall efficiency, with the efficiency rising from 18.67% to a maximum of 19.05% when ZnO QDs were deposited from a 5 mg/mL solution. These findings suggest that ZnO QDs could significantly enhance solar energy conversion efficiency by utilizing portions of the solar spectrum that would otherwise be wasted.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

20500 - Materials engineering

Project

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Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Materials>

ISSN

1996-1944

e-ISSN

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Volume of the periodical

18

Issue of the periodical within the volume

4

Country of publishing house

CH - SWITZERLAND

Number of pages

14

Pages from-to

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UT code for WoS article

001430134000001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85218986617